Guitar Basics 102: Hammer On, Pull Off, Trills, Tapping, Slides, Natural Harmonics, Artificial Harmonics, Bends and Drop Tuning.

This is round two in guitar basics for beginner guitarists. Chords are good and everything, but they are only one small part in learning the basics (though a needed and significant part). The next level consists of learning hammer ons, pull offs, two hand tapping, bending, sliding, and harmonics.

First we have hammer ons and pull offs which are essential if you want to play legato style leads. Another skill that hammer on and pull offs lead to are trills in which you hammer and pull two successive notes. Finally, if you can do trills then your one step closer to two hand tapping.

Another level 2 guitar basic skill is the ability to slide between two notes on a fret board. Learning how to slide notes between frets is a good way to quickly change keys or even scale patterns. For instance, if you were playing pattern 1 of a minor pentatonic blues scale and wanted to change to patter 3, all you would have to do is slide up the fret to that scale pattern. Basically, slides are a good way to change chords or scales quickly.

Then there is bending strings which is the third guitar basic must. Bending is an art and could be initially difficult to accomplish. The reason for this is you have to get use to bending strings to the right note on command. That is, when you are playing a song and it requires and immediate bend a whole step higher, it takes practice to be able to hammer that down every time. However, like all things, if you practice bends enough you will get it down. Repetition you know.

Drop tuning is another good skill because there are a lot of songs; especially in rock, in which guitars are tuned down a half step. Some songs even have one string tuned down a complete whole step.

After that, there are the natural and artificial harmonics. Learning these will add a little of spice to your playing. Indeed, when you start improvising leads, artificial (pinch) harmonics add that extra "BOOM!!!" to any well placed note within you lead.

Finally, there are the initial scales like the chromatic, major, and minor scales.

So, to get started, click on one of the links below:

The Chromatic Scale

Drop Tuning

Hammerons, Pull Offs, Slides, and Tapping

String Bending

Natural and Artificial Harmonics


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